Petersen, a prosecutor, persuaded the Dade County state attorney's office to pay him for setting up and running the store.

This was no ordinary convenience store. It employed welfare mothers. It offered credit. It delivered groceries. Most profits went to support day care for welfare mothers. The point was not profit - the point was to break the cycle of welfare dependency. Liberty Mart was safe and clean. And successful.

At least it was until Super Bowl week in January and Liberty City's most recent riots. Liberty City residents burned and looted some 24 stores, damaging $1 million in property. Liberty Mart and its contents were destroyed on Jan. 18. There was no insurance.

''I feel heartsick,'' said Gloria Morris, a Liberty Mart staff member, at the time. ''The job helped me stay off welfare and that's where I want to be.''

Tom Petersen did not have the heart to start over. But the story of him and his store made the news. Money to rebuild rolled in. An American in Managua, Nicaragua, sent cash. Scores of people sent $10 and $50. Foundations offered more substantial sums.

By March, Petersen had $50,000 - twice what he had to set up the first Liberty Mart. And Southland Corp., owners of 7-Eleven, expressed interest in sponsoring Liberty Mart and Petersen's two other stores, Larch Mart and Modello Mart, situated, like Liberty Mart, in low-income housing projects.

Now Petersen has his hands full. He must get together a Liberty Mart groundbreaking.

And he must find somebody to take his place as master mover of Liberty Mart, Larch Mart and Modello Mart. For Petersen, like Liberty Mart, is starting anew. Last month, Gov. Bob Martinez appointed him Dade County juvenile court judge.

''I never imagined I would get it,'' he said. ''Especially with a Republican governor - I'm a Democrat. I'm excited. I am ready to move on. Doing this kind of job, Liberty Mart, the other marts, you get burned out fast - literally and figuratively.''